A true crime podcast hosted by Robin Warder

The Trail Went Cold – Episode 53 – Ronald Hughes

November 27, 1970. Ventura County, California. While representing Leslie Van Houten during the Manson Family’s murder trial, 35-year old attorney Ronald Hughes leaves to go on a camping trip. He never returns and his decomposed body is found wedged between two boulders in a gorge four months later. While the actual cause of death cannot be determined, rumours circulate about foul play, as Charles Manson had grown angry at Hughes and allegedly threatened him. Was Ronald Hughes’ death nothing more than a tragic accident, or was he an unconfirmed murder victim of the Manson Family? The first “Trail Went Cold” episode of 2018 chronicles the unexplained death of an aspiring attorney whose first and last case turned out to be one of the most famous murder trials of all time. Special thanks to listener Andrew Dodge for providing the opening narration for today’s episode.

This episode is brought to you by Aaptiv. Aaptiv produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers available through a mobile app. New members get 50% off an annual membership, so please visit aaptiv.com/COLD.

I’ve been hiking in the Sespe Hot Springs area (including once during a natural disaster – forest fire this time) and I might be able to explain what happened to Mr. Hughes.

The hot springs are a series of pools (three IIRC) each of which have different temperatures, that are warm enough for bathing comfortably in all seasons. It stands to reason that while Mr. Hughes was hiking in the area, that’s where he would have washed up.

The pools are situated just above the inlet of a long lake, but well below the old road (which I suspect was open in ’71 and probably the same road that the VW got stuck in) that leads into the area.

If Mr. Hughes was taking bathing in one of the hot springs when a flash flood came through, 7 miles away (which is about the length of the lake if memory serves) wedged in a boulder with no clothes on is exactly how I would expect him to be found. The water would probably go right through the springs area and into the lake.

Having been in the area and being able to visualize the layout, it’s an easy scenario to imagine. Of course, I don’t know the exact spot he was found. But that fits the facts as I know them.

Doh! I should have checked the map before I posted…what I remember as a lake apparently is a creek, but there was enough water in it that when the forest fire hit when I was hiking in that area, my plan was to head there if I got trapped. At any rate, it’d be very interesting to know the spot where he was found, because if it was downstream flow-wise from the springs themselves, that’s what I would guess happened. Enjoying the podcasts.